T-shirt style bag with registered advertising strip, apparatus and method for making same

ABSTRACT

Plastic shopping bags having upper and lower seams, at least one side gusset, an open bag mouth and upper bag handles has attached promotional ad strips. The strips include a central removable portion and a pair of remainder portions at either end of the strip that are sealed into the upper and lower seams. The ad strips are registered to the upper and lower bag seams so that whole numbers of the coupons, messages or promotions will fall within the removable portion of the strip. Perforations join the removable portion of the strip to the remainder portions. An apparatus for registering the ad strips to plastic shopping bags includes markers on the bags and on the ad strips, sensors to detect the markers, a controller to match the speed of the ad strips to that of the bag blanks, a sealer, bag cutter and either a stacker or a winder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of plastic bags of the type employed by retailers in packing food items and other merchandise, with particular application to bags that are unsealed or partially sealed along their top edges and include a promotional strip attached in registered form to the bag to maximize the visibility of the promotional material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,118 and its divisional method U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,584, we disclosed and claimed the attachment of advertising strips to T-shirt bags and a method for accomplishing such attachments during the course of fabricating such bags from extruded plastic tubing. As the bags disclosed in our prior patent were heat-sealed along both their bottom and top edges, it was possible simultaneously to heat seal the ends of advertising strips to be attached to the bag along both the top and lower edges of such strips. These strips could be disposed either within the gussets of the bags or along an outside edge.

Typically, the promotional strips used with these bags include a number of discreet coupons. The coupons are joined end to end with a perforation or simply printed on the promotional strip with indications as to where to cut the strip to separate the coupons. As no method was provided in the prior patents to coordinate the placement of any point on the promotional strip with the top or bottom edges of the bags, at least one coupon would typically be lost as a top or bottom seam of the bag would intersect a portion of the coupon. The present invention addresses this problem by providing a means for registering the promotional strip so that only whole numbers of coupons are positioned between the top and bottom bag edges.

Various technologies have been developed for the registration of one item to another during a fabrication process. U.S. patent application No. 2002/0170670, published for Nguyen discloses a system for dispensing and positioning a coupon strip on a film tube. The proposed invention provides for dispensing and positioning a strip of coupons from a roll to a position longitudinally aligned with and adjacent to a film tube. This is accomplished by mounting the coupon strips onto a spindle that is vertically adjustable so that it may be situated in various positions upon the first and second vertical support members of the gusseting machine that is used in the bag making operation. This alignment is only a longitudinal or side-to-side alignment of the coupon strip on the bag. The invention does not contemplate registering the coupons to the bag ends so as to prevent use of partial coupons.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,168, issued to Coenen et al. is directed to a process and apparatus for registering continuously moving stretchable layers. The present invention relates to processes and apparatus for making disposable absorbent articles but may be applied to the production of various products which are fabricated in a continuous production line by the sequential addition of components to previously supplied components. It is particularly directed to the bringing together of individual separate components so that the components are in a desired relation with respect to one another. It is accomplished by controllably registering a plurality of reference marks of a continuously moving first layer with a plurality of corresponding reference marks of a continuously moving elasticized second layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,930, issued to Counts et al. discloses a package having a separable overlay. The invention relates to a flexible package having a detachable decorative overlay portion that allows the retailer to provide marketing information that is removable from the body of the package. The multiple separable overlays are registered to each other rather than to a continuous web of polyethylene tubing that later becomes a bag. The invention includes a feature that permits easy removal of an outer overlay from the underlying layers. The entire perimeter of one layers is connected to the entire perimeter of an underlying layer to form a closed package for the containment of goods.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,230, issued to Wyslotsky, is directed to a label indexing and applicator apparatus. The apparatus provides for the indexing of distinct labels onto a substrate stock and utilizes differential tension to the strip label stock in order to do so. The labels are longitudinally separated on the strip by transparent label divider portions so that the strip label stock is divided into discrete label units. The indexing and applicator apparatus comprises elements that function to form a laminate of a label material bearing selected visual indicia and a substrate backing material. The apparatus described in this patent uses transparent spaces between adjacent labels to sense the ends of each label and to control placement of the labels on a substrate. The labels are then heat bonded to the substrate over their entire length using a heat nip roller.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,936, issued to Callahan et al. discloses an apparatus and method for securing a detachable promotional banner or coupon to a flexible package. The apparatus and method is specifically intended to attach pre-printed promotional banners or coupons to the exterior of a flexible snack food package. The product package with banner is adhered to an outer surface of the package at an intermediate point as well as at points that are adjacent to the package's lower and upper seals. While this reference does disclose registering the banner stock to the packaging material, the banner stock is releasably adhered to a closed, sealed package with contents inside.

It is an objective of the invention to provide T-shirt style bags have coupon strips attached to upper and lower heat seals of the bags either within the bag gusset or on top of the bag gusset. It is a further objective to insure that only whole numbers of coupons are a part of the coupon strip, i.e., that the end of a first coupon roughly coincides with the upper or lower seal of the bag. It is still a further objective that the attachment of such registered coupon strips to the T-shirt bags be easily and reliably accomplished. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the attachment of registered coupon strips to T-shirt bags be sufficiently economical to provide for their continued use.

While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(1) A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip may be formed from the following components. A pair of registering front and back walls are provided. The walls are secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of their top edges. The walls, when pulled apart from each other, define a space into which articles may be placed. At least one of the secured together side edges is gusseted. A plastic strip is provided. The plastic strip has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strip is located on one of the front and back walls along one side of the gusset. The strip is of a length not greater than a length of the gusseted side edge. The strip is sealed to one of the top edges of the bag walls at an end of the first remainder portion and sealed to one of the bottom edges of the bag walls at an end of the second remainder portion. Promotional material is printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strip. The promotional material begins and ends within the removable portion of the strip.

(2) In a variant of the invention, the plastic strip is located within the at least one gusset.

(3) In another variant, the removable portion of the strip is removably attached to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to the second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.

(4) In still another variant, the promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.

(5) In yet another variant, a pair of registering front and back walls are provided. The walls are secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges. The walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed. At least one of the secured together first and second side edges is folded inwardly from the front and back walls to form a gusset. The gusset has top and bottom edges. The top edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the gusset terminate in an upper seal. The bottom edges of the front wall, the back wall, and the gusset terminate in a lower seal. The lower seal is perpendicular to the first and second side edges. A U-shaped cut-out is provided. The U-shaped cut-out is located in an upper portion of the bag and commences at a first point above the upper seal spaced inwardly from the first side edge and extends to a second point above the upper seal spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The cut-out extends downwardly toward the lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles.

A plastic strip is provided. The plastic strip has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strip is located on at least one of the front and back walls above the at least one gusset. The strip is of a length not greater than a length of the gusset. The strip is sealed to one of the top edges of the bag walls at an end of the first remainder portion and sealed to one of the bottom edges of the bag walls at an end of the second remainder portion. Promotional material is printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strip. The promotional material begins and ends within the removable portion of the strip.

(6) In a further variant, the plastic strip is located within the at least one gusset.

(7) In still a further variant, the removable portion of the strip is removably attached to the first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to the second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.

(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.

(9) In still another variant, the bags are severed from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack.

(10) In yet another variant, the bags are attached to one another at a perforation line and wound into a roll.

(11) An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip can be constructed from the following components. A supply of polyethylene material is provided. An extruder is provided. The extruder produces a continuous tube of polyethylene material. A gusseter is provided. The gusseter forms at least one side gusset in the continuous tube. A flattener is provided. The flattener flattens the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge. A marker is provided. The marker places bag reference markers on the continuous tube at a first predetermined interval.

A roll of plastic strip material is provided. The plastic strip material includes a plurality of plastic strips. Each of the strips has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strips have promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strips and strip reference markers located upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the strips at the first predetermined interval. An unwind mechanism is provided. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of plastic strip material and modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll.

An insertion device is provided. The insertion device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism. The insertion device directs the plastic strip material into the at least one side gusset. A first sensor is provided. The first sensor detects passage of the bag reference markers. A second sensor is provided. The second sensor detects passage of the strip reference markers. A controller is provided. The controller monitors input from the first and second sensors, operator input and controls the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll and directed to the insertion device.

A sealer is provided. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively. The remainder portions of the plastic strips are sealed at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located within the at least one gusset. The bag reference markers are substantially aligned with the strip reference markers and the removable portion of the strip begins and ends between the upper and lower bag seals.

A bag blank cutter is provided. The bag blank cutter severs the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line. A stacker is provided. The stacker arranges a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack. A bag opening cutter is provided. The cutter removes a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of the bag blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped section extends from a first point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the first side edge, downward toward the lower bag seal, across a part of the upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles. When the bag reference markers are aligned with the strip reference markers, the removable portions of the plastic strips will be registered with respect to the upper and lower bag seals.

(12) In a variant of the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an application device. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and directs the plastic strip material on to either of the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.

(13) In another variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced with a perforator and a winder. The perforator forms a perforation line on the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank. The bag winder winds the bags into a roll.

(14) In still another variant, the insertion device is replaced with an application device while retaining the perforator and the winder. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and directs the plastic strip material on to either of the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. The sealer seals the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.

(15) In yet another variant, the apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip includes an operator interface. The interface inputs at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.

(16) In a further variant, the unwind mechanism includes at least one unwind nip roller. The unwind nip roller tensions the plastic strip material and the controller modulates the tensioning.

(17) In still a further variant, the roll of plastic strip material includes at least two parallel streams of plastic strips. The parallel streams are joined to one another at side edges of the streams.

(18) In yet a further variant, the apparatus includes a slitter mechanism. The slitter mechanism separates the at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.

(19) In another variant of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one tensioning nip roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.

(20) In still another variant, the apparatus includes a turn bar for at least one of the individual streams of plastic strips. The turn bar aligns the individual stream of plastic strips with the bag blanks.

(21) In yet another variant, the apparatus includes a strip perforating mechanism. The strip perforating mechanism perforates the plastic strips between the remainder portions located at either end of the strip.

(22) A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, includes the steps of: Providing a supply of polyethylene material. Extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material. Forming at least one side gusset in the continuous tube. Flattening the gusseted tube. The gusseted tube has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge. Placing bag reference markers on the gusseted tube at a first predetermined interval. Providing a roll of plastic strip material. The plastic strip material includes a plurality of plastic strips, each of the strips has first and second remainder portions located at either end of the strip and a removable portion located between the remainder portions. The plastic strips have promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the removable portion of the strips. Strip reference markers are located on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the strips at the first predetermined interval.

Providing an unwind mechanism. The unwind mechanism supports the roll of plastic strip material. Modulating a speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device. The insertion device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism. Providing a first sensor. Detecting passage of the bag reference markers. Providing a second sensor. Detecting passage of the strip reference markers. Providing a controller. Monitoring input from the first and second sensors and operator input. Controlling the speed at which the plastic strip material is unwound from the roll. Directing the plastic strip material to the insertion device. Inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset. Aligning the bag reference markers with the strip reference markers, thereby causing the removable portion of the strip to begin and end between the upper and lower bag seals. Providing a sealer. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks. Each of the bag blanks has a plastic strip located within the at least one gusset. Providing a bag blank cutter. Severing the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line. Providing a stacker. Arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack.

Providing a bag opening cutter. Removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of the bag blanks located in the bag stack. The U-shaped section extending from a first point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the first side edge, downward toward the lower bag seal, across a part of the upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on the cut line spaced inwardly from the second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles. When the bag reference markers are aligned with the strip reference markers, the removable portions of the plastic strips will be registered with respect to the upper and lower bag seals.

(23) In a variant of the method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, the insertion device is replaced with an application device. The application device receives the plastic strip material from the roll located on the unwind mechanism and the method includes the following additional steps. Directing the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one side gusset.

(24) In a further variant, which includes an insertion device for inserting the plastic strip material into the at least one gusset, the stacker is replaced with a perforator and a winder and the method includes the following additional steps: Forming a perforation line on the bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank. Winding the bags into a roll.

(25) In still a further variant, the insertion device is replaced with an application device and the method includes the following additional steps: Receiving the plastic strip material from the roll disposed upon the unwind mechanism. Directing the plastic strip material on to either the top surface or the bottom surface of the gusseted tube either above or below the at least one side gusset. Sealing the first and second remainder portions of the plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to the first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of the bag blanks having a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset.

(26) In yet a further variant, the method includes the further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.

(27) In another variant, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a slitter mechanism. Separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.

(28) In a final variant of the invention, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a strip perforating mechanism. Perforating the plastic strips between the remainder portions located at either end of the strip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a T-shirt style bag having an advertising or coupon strip, illustrating advertising on the coupons, heat sealed to the upper and lower seams of the bag with the attached coupons disposed above a gusset along one side of the bag;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1A-1A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a T-shirt style bag having an advertising or coupon strip, illustrating advertising on the coupons, heat sealed to the upper and lower seams of the bag with the removably attached coupons disposed within a gusset along one side of the bag;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2A-2A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing the FIG. 1 bag;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing the FIG. 2 bag; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the method of controlling the manufacture of the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A, a plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip 10 may be formed from the following components. A pair of registering front 15 and back 20 walls are provided. The walls 15, 20 are secured together along their side 25, top 30 and bottom 35 edges and open across a portion of their top edges 30. The walls 15, 20, when pulled apart from each other, define a space 40 into which articles (not shown) may be placed. At least one of the secured together side edges 25 is gusseted. A plastic strip 45 is provided. The plastic strip 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strip 45 is located on one of the front 15 and back 20 walls along one side 70 of the gusset 75. The strip 45 is of a length 80 not greater than a length 85 of the gusseted side edge 25. The strip 45 is sealed to one of the top edges 30 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 90 of the first remainder portion 50 and sealed to one of the bottom edges 35 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 95 of the second remainder portion 55. Promotional material 100 is printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strip 45. The promotional material 100 begins and ends within the removable portion 65 of the strip 45.

(2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the plastic strip 45 is located within the at least one gusset 75.

(3) In another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 2 the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 is removably attached to the first remainder portion 50 with at least one perforation line 115 and is removably attached to the second remainder portion 55 with at least one perforation line 120.

(4) In still another variant, the promotional material 100 is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.

(5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A, a pair of registering front 15 and back 20 walls are provided. The walls 15, 20 are secured together along their top edges 30, first 24 and second 26 side edges, bottom edges 35 and open across at least a portion of their top edges 30. The walls 15, 20, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space 40 into which articles (not shown) may be placed. At least one of the secured together first 24 and second 26 side edges is folded inwardly from the front 15 and back 20 walls to form a gusset 75. The gusset 75 has top 125 and bottom 130 edges. The top edges 30, 125 of the front wall 15, the back wall 20, and the gusset 75 terminate in an upper seal 135. The bottom edges 35, 130 of the front wall 15, the back wall 20, and the gusset 75 terminate in a lower seal 140. The lower seal 140 is perpendicular to the first 24 and second 26 side edges. A U-shaped cut-out 145 is provided. The U-shaped cut-out 145 is located in an upper portion 150 of the bag 10 and commences at a first point 155 above the upper seal 135 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 24 and extends to a second point 160 above the upper seal 135 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 26. The cut-out 145 extends downwardly toward the lower seal 140, thereby forming an open bag mouth 165 and a pair of bag handles 170.

A plastic strip 45 is provided. The plastic strip 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strip 45 is located on at least one of the front 15 and back 20 walls above the at least one gusset 75. The strip 45 is of a length 80 not greater than a length 85 of the gusset 75. The strip 45 is sealed to one of the top edges 30 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 90 of the first remainder portion 50 and sealed to one of the bottom edges 35 of the bag walls 15, 20 at an end 95 of the second remainder portion 55. Promotional material 100 is printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strip 45. The promotional material 100 begins and ends within the removable portion 65 of the strip 45.

(6) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the plastic strip 45 is located within the at least one gusset 75.

(7) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 is removably attached to the first remainder portion 50 with at least one perforation line 115 and is removably attached to the second remainder portion 55 with at least one perforation line 120.

(8) In another variant of the invention, the promotional material 100 is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.

(9) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bags 10 are severed from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack 175.

(10) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the bags 10 are attached to one another at a perforation line 180 and wound into a roll 185.

(11) An apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, can be constructed from the following components. A supply of polyethylene material (not shown) is provided. An extruder (not shown) is provided. The extruder produces a continuous tube 205 of polyethylene material 195. A gusseter 210 is provided. The gusseter 210 forms at least one side gusset 75 in the continuous tube 205. A flattener 215 is provided. The flattener 215 flattens the gusseted tube 205. The gusseted tube 205 has a top surface 220, a bottom surface 225, a first side edge 230 and a second side edge 235. A marker (not shown) is provided. The marker places bag reference markers 245 on the continuous tube 205 at a first predetermined interval 250.

A roll of plastic strip material 255 is provided. The plastic strip material 255 includes a plurality of plastic strips 45. Each of the strips 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strips 45 have promotional material 100 printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strips 45 and strip reference markers 260 located upon at least one of an upper surface 265 or a lower surface 270 of the strips 45 at the first predetermined interval 250. An unwind mechanism 272 is provided. The unwind mechanism 272 supports the roll of plastic strip material 255 and modulates the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll.

An insertion device 275 is provided. The insertion device 275 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272. The insertion device 275 directs the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one side gusset 75. A first sensor 280 is provided. The first sensor 280 detects passage of the bag reference markers 245. A second sensor 285 is provided. The second sensor 285 detects passage of the strip reference markers 260. A controller 290, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is provided. The controller 290 monitors input from the first 280 and second 285 sensors, operator input 295 and controls the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll and directed to the insertion device 275.

A sealer 300, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, is provided. The sealer 300 seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively. The remainder portions 50, 55 of the plastic strips 45 are sealed at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located within the at least one gusset 75. The bag reference markers 245 are substantially aligned with the strip reference markers 260 and the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 begins and ends between the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.

A bag blank cutter 335, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is provided. The bag blank cutter 335 severs the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330 at a cut line 340. A stacker (not shown) is provided. The stacker arranges a predetermined number of bag blanks 330 into a registered stack 350. A bag opening cutter 355 is provided. The cutter 355 removes a substantially U-shaped section 360 from an upper portion 365 of the bag blanks 330 located in the bag stack 350. The U-shaped section 360 extends from a first point 370 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 230, downward toward the lower bag seal 325, across a part of the upper portion 365, and upwardly to a second point 375 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 235, thereby forming an open bag mouth 380 and a pair of bag handles 385. When the bag reference markers 245 are aligned with the strip reference markers 260, the removable portions 65 of the plastic strips 45 will be registered with respect to the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.

(12) In a variant of the apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the insertion device 275 is replaced with an application device 390. The application device 390 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272 and directs the plastic strip material 255 on to either of the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one side gusset 75. The sealer 300 seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located either above or below the at least one gusset 75.

(13) In another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 4, which includes an insertion device 275 for inserting the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one gusset 75, the stacker 345 is replaced with a perforator 395 and a winder 400. The perforator 395 forms a perforation line 405 on the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330. The bag winder 400 winds the bags 10 into a roll 410.

(14) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insertion device 275 is replaced with an application device 390 while retaining the perforator 395 and the winder 400. The application device 390 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272 and directs the plastic strip material 255 on to either of the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one side gusset 75. The sealer 300 seals the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip located either above or below the at least one gusset 75.

(15) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the apparatus 190 for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10 includes an operator interface 295. The interface 295 inputs at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.

(16) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the unwind mechanism 272 includes at least one unwind nip roller 420. The unwind nip roller 420 tensions the plastic strip material 255 and the controller 290 modulates the tensioning.

(17) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the roll of plastic strip material 255 includes at least two parallel streams 425 of plastic strips 45. The parallel streams 425 are joined to one another at side edges 432 of the streams 425.

(18) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus includes a slitter mechanism 430. The slitter mechanism 430 separates the at least two parallel streams 425 of plastic strips 45 into individual streams 425.

(19) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 190 includes at least one tensioning nip roller 435 for each individual stream 425 of plastic strips 45.

(20) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 190 includes a turn bar 440 for at least one of the individual streams 425 of plastic strips 45. The turn bar 440 aligns the individual stream 425 of plastic strips 45 with the bag blanks 330.

(21) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the apparatus includes a strip perforating mechanism 445. The strip perforating mechanism 445 perforates the plastic strips 45 between the remainder portions 50, 55 located at either end 60 of the strip 45.

(22) A method, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, includes the steps of: Providing a supply of polyethylene material 195. Extruding a continuous tube 205 of polyethylene material 195. Forming at least one side gusset 75 in the continuous tube 205. Flattening the gusseted tube 205. The gusseted tube 205 has a top surface 220, a bottom surface 225, a first side edge 230 and a second side edge 235. Placing bag reference markers 245 on the gusseted tube 205 at a first predetermined interval 250. Providing a roll of plastic strip material 255. The plastic strip material 255 includes a plurality of plastic strips 45, each of the strips 45 has first 50 and second 55 remainder portions located at either end 60 of the strip 45 and a removable portion 65 located between the remainder portions 50, 55. The plastic strips 45 have promotional material 100 printed upon at least one of an upper surface 105 or a lower surface 110 of the removable portion 65 of the strips 45. Strip reference markers 260 are located on at least one of an upper surface 265 and a lower surface 270 of the strips 45 at the first predetermined interval 250.

Providing an unwind mechanism 272. The unwind mechanism 272 supports the roll of plastic strip material 255. Modulating a speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll. Providing an insertion device 275. The insertion device 275 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272. Providing a first sensor 280. Detecting passage of the bag reference markers 245. Providing a second sensor 285. Detecting passage of the strip reference markers 260. Providing a controller 290. Monitoring input from the first 280 and second 285 sensors and operator input 295. Controlling the speed at which the plastic strip material 255 is unwound from the roll. Directing the plastic strip material 255 to the insertion device 275. Inserting the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one gusset 75. Aligning the bag reference markers 245 with the strip reference markers 260, thereby causing the removable portion 65 of the strip 45 to begin and end between the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.

Providing a sealer 300. Sealing the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330. Each of the bag blanks 330 has a plastic strip 45 located within the at least one gusset 75. Providing a bag blank cutter 335. Severing the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330 at a cut line 340. Providing a stacker (not shown). Arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks 330 into a registered stack 350.

Providing a bag opening cutter 355. Removing a substantially U-shaped section 360 from an upper portion 365 of the bag blanks 330 located in the bag stack 350. The U-shaped section 360 extending from a first point 370 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the first side edge 230, downward toward the lower bag seal 325, across a part of the upper portion 365, and upwardly to a second point 375 on the cut line 340 spaced inwardly from the second side edge 235, thereby forming an open bag mouth 380 and a pair of bag handles 385. When the bag reference markers 245 are aligned with the strip reference markers 260, the removable portions 65 of the plastic strips 45 will be registered with respect to the upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals.

(23) In a variant of the method, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip 10, the insertion device 275 is replaced with an application device 390. The application device 390 receives the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located on the unwind mechanism 272 and the method includes the following additional steps. Directing the plastic strip material 255 on to either the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one side gusset 75. Sealing the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330, each of the bag blanks 330 having a plastic strip 45 located either above or below the at least one side gusset 75.

(24) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 4, which includes an insertion device 275 for inserting the plastic strip material 255 into the at least one gusset 75, the stacker is replaced with a perforator 395 and a winder 400 and the method includes the following additional steps: Forming a perforation line 405 on the bag blanks 330 between an upper bag seal 320 of a first bag blank 330 and a lower bag seal 325 of a second bag blank 330. Winding the bags 10 into a roll 410.

(25) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the insertion device 275 is replaced with an application device 390 and the method includes the following additional steps: Receiving the plastic strip material 255 from the roll located upon the unwind mechanism 272. Directing the plastic strip material 255 on to either the top surface 220 or the bottom surface 225 of the gusseted tube 205 either above or below the at least one side gusset 75. Sealing the first 50 and second 55 remainder portions of the plastic strips 45 to first 305 and second 310 lines orthogonal to the first 230 and second 235 side edges, respectively, at intervals 250 determined by the bag reference markers 245, thereby forming upper 320 and lower 325 bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks 330, each of the bag blanks 330 having a plastic strip 45 located either above or below the at least one gusset 75.

(26) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the method includes the further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.

(27) In another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a slitter mechanism 430. Separating at least two parallel streams 425 of plastic strips 45 into individual streams 425.

(28) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the method includes the further steps of: Providing a strip perforating mechanism 445. Perforating the plastic strips 45 between the remainder portions 50, 55 located at either end 60 of the strip 45.

The plastic shopping bags 10 with promotional strip ad and apparatus 190 and method for making same have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow. 

1. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of said top edges; said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed; at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted; a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strip being disposed upon one of said front and back walls along one side of said gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusseted side edge; said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion; promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.
 2. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their side, top and bottom edges and open across a portion of said top edges; said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed; at least one of said secured together side edges being gusseted; a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strip being disposed within said gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusseted side edge; said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion; promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.
 3. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said removable portion of said strip is removably attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.
 4. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
 5. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges; said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed; at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges; said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in an upper seal; said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular to said first and second side edges; a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strip being disposed upon at least one of said front and back walls above said at least one gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusset; said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion; promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.
 6. A plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip comprising: a pair of registering front and back walls, said walls being secured together along their top edges, first and second side edges, bottom edges and open across at least a portion of their top edges; said walls, when pulled apart from each other, defining a space into which articles may be placed; at least one of said secured together first and second side edges being folded inwardly from said front and back walls to form a gusset, said gusset having top and bottom edges; said top edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in an upper seal; said bottom edges of said front wall, said back wall, and said gusset terminating in a lower seal, said lower seal being perpendicular to said first and second side edges; a U-shaped cut-out, said U-shaped cut-out being disposed in an upper portion of said bag and commencing at a first point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said first side edge and extending to a second point above said upper seal spaced inwardly from said second side edge, said cut-out extending downwardly toward said lower seal, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; a plastic strip, said plastic strip having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strip being disposed within said at least one gusset, said strip being of a length not greater than a length of said gusset; said strip being sealed to one of said top edges of said bag walls at an end of said first remainder portion and sealed to one of said bottom edges of said bag walls at an end of said second remainder portion; promotional material being printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strip; and said promotional material beginning and ending within said removable portion of said strip.
 7. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said removable portion of the strip is removably attached to said first remainder portion with at least one perforation line and is removably attached to said second remainder portion with at least one perforation line.
 8. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said promotional material is selected from the group consisting of coupons, household hints, contests, games and product or service information.
 9. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 1, 2, 5 or 6 wherein said bags are severed from one another and stacked in a registered bag pack.
 10. The plastic shopping bag with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 1, 2, 5 or 6 wherein said bags are attached to one another at a perforation line and wound into a roll.
 11. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: a supply of polyethylene material; an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material; a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one side gusset; a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers; a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers; a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device; a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset; said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals; a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line; a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack; a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 12. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: a supply of polyethylene material; an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material; a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset; a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers; a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers; a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device; a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset; said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals; a bag blank cutter, said bag blank cutter severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line; a stacker, said stacker arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack; a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 13. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: a supply of polyethylene material; an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material; a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material into said at least one side gusset; a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers; a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers; a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device; a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset; said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals; a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank; a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 14. An apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising: a supply of polyethylene material; an extruder, said extruder producing a continuous tube of polyethylene material; a gusseter, said gusseter forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; a flattener, said flattener flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; a marker, said marker placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material and modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism and directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset; a first sensor, said first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers; a second sensor, said second sensor detecting passage of said strip reference markers; a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors, operator input and controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device; a sealer, said sealer sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset; said bag reference markers being substantially aligned with said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals; a perforator, said perforator forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank; a bag opening cutter, said cutter removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; a bag winder, said bag winder winding said bags into a roll; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 15. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 11-14, further comprising an operator interface, said interface inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
 16. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 11-14, wherein said unwind mechanism further comprises at least one unwind nip roller, said unwind nip roller tensioning said plastic strip material, said controller modulating said tensioning.
 17. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 11-14, wherein said roll of plastic strip material comprises at least two parallel streams of plastic strips, said parallel streams being joined to one another at side edges of said streams.
 18. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 17, further comprising a slitter mechanism, said slitter mechanism separating said at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.
 19. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 18, further comprising at least one tensioning nip roller for each individual stream of plastic strips.
 20. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 18, further comprising a turn bar for at least one of said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar aligning said individual stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks.
 21. The apparatus for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 11-14, further comprising a strip perforating mechanism, said strip perforating mechanism perforating said plastic strips between said remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip.
 22. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: providing a supply of polyethylene material; extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material; forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material; modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism; providing a first sensor; detecting passage of said bag reference markers; providing a second sensor; detecting passage of said strip reference markers; providing a controller; monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input; controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; directing said plastic strip material to said insertion device; inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset; aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals; providing a sealer; sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset; providing a bag blank cutter; severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line; providing a stacker; arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack; providing a bag opening cutter; removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 23. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: providing a supply of polyethylene material; extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material; forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material; modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; providing an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism; detecting passage of said bag reference markers; providing a second sensor; detecting passage of said strip reference markers; providing a controller; monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input; controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; directing said plastic strip material to said application device; directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset; aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals; providing a sealer; sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one side gusset; providing a bag blank cutter; severing said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank at a cut line; providing a stacker; arranging a predetermined number of bag blanks into a registered stack; providing a bag opening cutter; removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks disposed in said bag stack; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said cut line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 24. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: providing a supply of polyethylene material; extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material; forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material; modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; providing an insertion device, said insertion device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism; providing a first sensor; detecting passage of said bag reference markers; providing a second sensor; detecting passage of said strip reference markers; providing a controller, said controller monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input; controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said insertion device; inserting said plastic strip material into said at least one gusset; aligning said bag reference markers with said strip reference markers, thereby causing said removable portion of said strip to begin and end between said upper and lower bag seals; providing a sealer; sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed within said at least one gusset; providing a perforator; forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank; providing a bag opening cutter; removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; providing a bag winder; winding said bags into a roll; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 25. A method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, comprising the steps of: providing a supply of polyethylene material; extruding a continuous tube of polyethylene material; forming at least one side gusset in said continuous tube; flattening said gusseted tube; said gusseted tube having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge; placing bag reference markers on said continuous tube at a first predetermined interval; providing a roll of plastic strip material, said plastic strip material comprising a plurality of plastic strips, each of said strips having first and second remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip and a removable portion disposed between said remainder portions; said plastic strips having promotional material printed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said removable portion of said strips and strip reference markers disposed upon at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of said strips at said first predetermined interval; providing an unwind mechanism, said unwind mechanism supporting said roll of plastic strip material; modulating a speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll; providing an application device, said application device receiving said plastic strip material from said roll disposed upon said unwind mechanism; directing said plastic strip material on to either of said top surface and said bottom surface of said flattened tube either of above and below said at least one side gusset; providing a first sensor detecting passage of said bag reference markers; providing a second sensor; detecting passage of said strip reference markers; providing a controller; monitoring input from said first and second sensors and operator input; controlling said speed at which said plastic strip material is unwound from said roll and directed to said application device; aligning said bag reference markers said strip reference markers and said removable portion of said strip beginning and ending between said upper and lower bag seals; providing a sealer; sealing said first and second remainder portions of said plastic strips to first and second lines orthogonal to said first and second side edges, respectively, at intervals determined by said bag reference markers, thereby forming upper and lower bag seals and a plurality of bag blanks, each of said bag blanks having a plastic strip disposed either of above and below said at least one gusset; providing a perforator; forming a perforation line on said bag blanks between an upper bag seal of a first bag blank and a lower bag seal of a second bag blank; providing a bag opening cutter; removing a substantially U-shaped section from an upper portion of said bag blanks; said U-shaped section extending from a first point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said first side edge, downward toward said lower bag seal, across a part of said upper portion, and upwardly to a second point on said perforation line spaced inwardly from said second side edge, thereby forming an open bag mouth and a pair of bag handles; providing a bag winder; winding said bags into a roll; and whereby, when said bag reference markers are aligned with said strip reference markers, said removable portions of said plastic strips will be registered with respect to said upper and lower bag seals.
 26. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 22-25, comprising the further step of inputting at least bag length, coupon length and coupon offset distance variables.
 27. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 22-25, comprising the further steps of: providing a slitter mechanism; and separating at least two parallel streams of plastic strips into individual streams.
 28. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claims 22-25, comprising the further steps of: providing a strip perforating mechanism; perforating said plastic strips between said remainder portions disposed at either end of said strip.
 29. The method for making plastic shopping bags with registered advertising strip, as described in claim 27, comprising the further step of providing a turn bar for at least one of said individual streams of plastic strips, said turn bar aligning said individual stream of plastic strips with said bag blanks. 